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Effect of temperature and water activity on mycelia radial growth, conidial production and germination of Lecanicillium spp. isolates and their virulence against Trialeurodes vaporariorum on tomato plants

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Abstract

Biocontrol of the whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) using entomopathogenic fungi has been a difficult challenge under greenhouse conditions. In order to select fungal isolates adapted to high temperature and extremely low moisture nine isolates of Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare & W. Gams, L. attenuatum Zare & W. Gams and L. longisporum (Petch) Zare & W. Gams (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) were evaluated. In vitro assays were performed to determine colony radial growth, conidial production and conidial germination in three water activity media (aw = 0.97, 0.98 and 1.00) at 28 and 32 °C. Virulence of Lecanicillium spp. isolates was evaluated against third instar T. vaporariorum on tomato plants at 23 °C. Colony radial growth, conidial production and germination decreased with the reduction in water activity, while 32 °C was extremely detrimental for all fungal isolates. However, some isolates were able to grow and produce conidia at low water activity and high temperature. Additionally, mortality above 60 % was recorded for one of these isolates. Practical implementation of biocontrol of T. vaporariorum under greenhouse production systems should consider the selection of those Lecanicillium isolates that show tolerance to the adverse environmental conditions in greenhouses.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to Beatriz Dini and Alfredo Fernández from National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA)—Las Brujas, for their participation in this work. We are also especially grateful with Dr. Gabriel Ciappesoni (INIA) for his excellent statistical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioproduction Lab – Bioinsumos, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Canelones, Uruguay

    Federico Rivas, Pablo Nuñez & Nora Altier

  2. Biocontrol and Biosecurity – Lincoln Research Centre, AgResearch (AgR), Lincoln, New Zealand

    Trevor Jackson

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  1. Federico Rivas
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  2. Pablo Nuñez
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  3. Trevor Jackson
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  4. Nora Altier
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Correspondence to Federico Rivas.

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Handling Editor: Nicolai Meyling.

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Rivas, F., Nuñez, P., Jackson, T. et al. Effect of temperature and water activity on mycelia radial growth, conidial production and germination of Lecanicillium spp. isolates and their virulence against Trialeurodes vaporariorum on tomato plants. BioControl 59, 99–109 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-013-9542-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-013-9542-y

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